Today marks 1 year since Ben and I tied the knot - and truly, time has flown. I go through these photos and my heart still beats heavily as I remember the feeling of that weekend. I had put so much time and energy into planning it, my whole heart and mind into it - yet it felt as though a switch was flipped the night of our rehearsal dinner and all of the sudden it was ok to just let the weekend be what it would be.

What came of those few days was nothing short of magical and will forever be the most amazing weekend of my life. Maybe it was the pizza and donuts the bridesmaids and I ate while getting ready for the ceremony or perhaps the AHmazing enchiladas at the rehearsal dinner but nonetheless - it was in the details. My family and friends whom I love most were present, my mother's smile lit up the room, and the wonderful timing of the thunder during our ceremony was just a foreshadowing of the cooling rain that served as a backdrop during dinner.

In hindsight, it is so clear that no matter how much creating and planning I put into it - it was ultimately the Lord that orchestrated the flow and circumstances of the weekend. That's something I often share with future brides. Plan, envision, and create as much as your heart desires - it truly is so much fun. But just remember that beyond a certain point - there is a lot of peace in knowing that that weekend is ultimately in the hands of the Lord and it's ok to let it be.

I've mentioned before how much I believe in the unity of marriage - that it was created by God to serve as a representation of our relationship with Jesus here on earth. Its full of so many ups and downs and what I have come to repeat often - the 3 'Cs'. A WHOLE LOTTA communication, compromise, and compassion.

I love you Ben Shapleigh. 1 year of marriage with you is more than I could have ever imagined and what I came to realize this morning - it flies by. To many more!

Ben, my husband, left for Chicago this past Saturday to take part in a month-long study course to prepare him for a Medical Board exam in June...and I am truly, unashamedly missing him so much.

It's odd because due to my new job, I am usually the one leaving him for the span of a week every three weeks or so. I leave the home that we share, the dog that we love, and our daily routine. While away, I am typically so busy working that before I know it - I've arrived back on my doorstep and the cycle continues.

This time, though - the tables have turned and I am experiencing what Ben always describes : a day to day emotional disruption in knowing that your spouse won't be physically present for any part of the day. Absence, in this case, certainly does make the heart grow fonder but also acutely aware of the bond you have formed in marriage.

I suspect that there are some eye-rolls in reading this. Surely I won't won't miss him every time we're apart and surely there will be and have been times when I covet my time alone for a few days - but I am grateful for this sense of longing I experience as it is evidence of what marriage truly is in God's eyes - becoming one with each other in every single way. Marriage is such a good, good thing.

With all that said - I wanted to share our wedding video with an intention to share further details and photographs from the most magical weekend I have known. I truly adore being married and particularly love remembering when it all started that one summer weekend in August.

(I am also really, really grateful to the team at 82/92 Productions for providing us the sweetest moments from those few days.)

Everyone look at the beauty that is Kendall Conrad's home. One King's Lane featured the designer's home in their recent "At Home With..." post.

What do I love most? The white walls, the stunning stone floors, the pops of color found in the art on the walls, and the weathered wooden furniture pieces. Also - that kitchen alone is a room I could move into.

My most favorite thing Kendall expressed were describing her initial thoughts on the house :

When I saw the house and garden I thought, ‘This is magical. I want little children running around playing with frogs by the creek and running around the fruit trees.’

Yes, Kendall.I want that, too.I really, really want that.

The most lovely blue.

“This entry introduces you to the house, so you get the vibe right off the bat,” says Kendall. The airy, edited space has a Colombian credenza, woven leather stools, and iron candlesticks from a shop on Portobello Road in London. A Kendall Conrad L’Aventura bag rests on the stone floor.

In the office, a wall of personal artwork surrounds an Indian sofa. “There’s a portrait of my grandmother, a colorful monkey my friend painted,, and I did the blue tiger when I was 12,” Kendall says. The Moroccan rug is from a favorite local shop, Upstairs at Pierre Lafond.

In her office, which she describes as “the most ‘me’ room in the house,” Kendall sits with one of her wirehaired dachshunds, Ollie. Her jewelry and sandals are from her chic accessories line. The portrait in the background is by daughter Luisa.

Kendall and David painted many of the dark exposed beams white to lighten things up. A George Smith sofa and two vintage armchairs suit the long rectangular room. The large leather ottoman? “It’s a Kendall Conrad original,” she says.

“This is the family table,” says Kendall. “We have dinner, the girls do their homework.” It was reimagined from an antique Spanish door. The rattan chairs add airy space. A vase by potter Miri Mara sits near striped cups by a local artisan.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s modern or traditional, it just has to have the best lines,” says Kendall of her criterion when choosing furnishings. In the library, George Smith armchairs mix with a Moroccan rug and a mesmerizing mobile by Ken Korten.

This kitchen is not just for show. “That stove is constantly in use,” says Kendall. “And our table is always full of fresh produce from our garden.” A silver ice bucket corrals wooden spoons beneath iron and copper pots. A painting by Kendall’s sister, Cayetana hangs above a traditional tagine.

Shelving in the kitchen shows off Kendall’s love of global earthenware. “The pieces are from all over,” says Kendall. “Plates from Mexico, a pre-Columbian pot, trays from Fiji. The rosemary and lemon are from our garden. I eat a lot of pineapple, but I also love the way they look on a counter.”

The master suite is a serene, breezy retreat. The centerpiece is a striking wood-and-wicker bed and set of nightstands “They’re custom by Brenda Antin and a future heirloom for our daughters,” Kendall says. Nightstand essentials? “Books, lip balm, and hand cream.” The bedding is Matteo.

It doesn’t matter if it’s modern or traditional; it just has to be right for the space and mix well. I think good lines work together regardless of when they were made.

Over the years I have curated an absurd amount of home related internet bookmarks, pins, and magazine rip-outs - hence the beginning of the Archive category. So when I actually had the opportunity to take some inspiration from said collection - and use them in a home that my husband and I own - I had a lot to sort through.

Hence the start of the Inspired category. One home in particular that I never cease to forget is a Spanish cottage that was featured in an issue of Architectural Digest Spain. Everything from the walls, the floors, the furniture, the art, and the stunning owner of this house make me want to stare....a lot! Have a look:

She's a dream!

Kitchen island envy // olive-colored cabinet love!!!

How gorgeous is the 4ft width of this archway?

Adore the contrast of the white walls with the golden frames, green chairs, and blonde wood. Also, give me the floors...and all of the windows.

In love with the wall art, the plaid bedspread and the sweet cross.

Re-purposed blue table and olive branch arrangement!

This sink can't be for real...but if it is...sign me up!

Does anyone need further convincing that this home is what dreams are made of?

Lots of unexpected changes in the last few weeks have made life quite busy but in all the best ways. We can all breathe easy again knowing that no, that is not an implication that I am pregnant but yes, I am finally settling back in and ready to attach myself to the computer screen again.

So - once 1004 Park was signed, sealed, and delivered to us - it was time to get to work. If you know me, you know that this is my bread and butter.

Bread = Finding a project.Butter = Getting my hands on said project.

Where did we begin? This was an easy choice to make and a rather satisfying one, too. During an initial walk-through, my cousin/real estate leasing agent extraordinaire immediately suggested we tear down the wall separating the kitchen from the dining room - thus making one big open room. Game changer of an idea, for sure!!

Ben and I took it a step further and not only removed the wall dividing these two main rooms but also removed the gaudy archway (there were several of these around the house) separating the kitchen from our small kitchen nook.

Now don't get me wrong - I really did adore the original charming cabinetry in the kitchen. They were in pretty good condition inside and out but the problem wasn't the condition of the cabinets, it was the depth of the counter top. Standard countertop depth is 24". Ours was 20". Which meant that we couldn't install a dishwasher without it sticking out 4" from the edge of the counter.

Here are some standard kitchen measurements if you are remodeling/designing your kitchen:

We were able to stick to these guidelines fairly well while planning the layout for our kitchen only because we had the space once we knocked down the wall. Otherwise, we would have had to adjust accordingly and say - 'screw your standard measurements!' - a phrase I've used many-a-time simply because my house was built in 1937 when people were apparently very tiny and had little to no use for extra storage space. (Hence the converted linen closet that once housed a rocket-ship sized water heater.)

Just to give you a little idea of what else was going on at the same time...

With the walls down and the cabinets gone - the angel that is our friend Karla helped us map out a kitchen plan on CAD and thus we came up with this:

The layout above has indeed come to life but you'll have to wait for that! Thoughts? Stay tuned.

Sarita Beth

Today was a good day - many thanks to my favorite Edie girl for making this babe give us a belly laugh and to Tia Mia for teaching my girl some moves. 💘

✨✨✨

Mondays with my Cate 💘#catechristopher

Happy Birthday to this pretty dimpled lady! I love you so momma! 😘 (She told me that the only way to get her hair this straight was to iron it on ironing board. I mean... 🤯)

Four months with our sweet Cate. This silly little babe still loves all the bottles, babbling, and blowing bubbles. I think our next ‘b’ will be 🍌 because we get to try solids this month! Every single day I think of how quickly this chapter of my life is evolving - how this time last year I was pregnant and didn’t know it and now here we are and I’m this little girl’s momma!???? Life is wild and the Lord is so, so faithful and good.